EU border agency to help Cyprus with migrant repatriations

NICOSIA, Cyprus — The chief of the European Union’s Frontex border company stated Wednesday that the repatriation of migrants is Cyprus’ “most pressing want” and that his group is able to facilitate flights to return dwelling individuals who had asylum claims rejected in Cyprus.

Frontex chief Fabrice Leggeri stated after talks Wednesday with Cypriot Inside Minister Nicos Nouris that the small east Mediterranean island nation faces an “extraordinary problem” that requires “extraordinary assist” from Frontex amid elevated migrant arrivals that the federal government says has stretched its means to manage.

Leggeri stated Frontex can herald consular officers from international international locations to verify the id of migrants and acquire permission to repatriate them. He stated the company may set up flights instantly from Cyprus, or with the help of different EU members.

“I spotted much more the problem that Cyprus is dealing with,” Leggeri stated.

Nouris repeated that the overwhelming majority of asylum-seekers reaching the island are channeled by Turkey to the ethnically divided island’s breakaway Turkish Cypriot north.

Some 85% of migrant arrivals cross a porous, United Nations-controlled buffer zone to use for asylum within the internationally acknowledged Greek Cypriot south.

Cyprus was cut up in 1974 when Turkey invaded following a coup aiming at union with Greece. Though Cyprus joined the EU in 2004, solely the south enjoys full membership advantages.

Nouris stated the EU acknowledges the necessity to take concrete measures to regulate the move of migrants throughout the buffer zone.

Migration pressures might be a key subject when EU Fee Vice President Margaritis Schinas visits Cyprus later this week.

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